Argumentation Jun 2023 Open Access

The Pragma-Dialectical Approach to the Fallacies Revisited

Frans H. van Eemeren Leiden University ; Bart Garssen University of Amsterdam

Abstract

AbstractThis article explains the design and development of the pragma-dialectical approach to fallacies. In this approach fallacies are viewed as violations of the standards for critical discussion that are expressed in a code of conduct for reasonable argumentative discourse. After the problem-solving validity in resolving differences of opinion of the rules of this code has been discussed, their conventional validity for real-life arguers is demonstrated. Starting from the extended version of the theory in which the strategic maneuvering taking place in argumentative discourse is included, the article explains that the violations of the rules that are committed in the fallacies involve derailments of strategic maneuvering. This culminates in a discussion of the exploitation of hidden fallaciousness as an unreasonable way of increasing the effectiveness of argumentative discourse – a vital topic of research in present-day pragma-dialectics.

Journal
Argumentation
Published
2023-06-01
DOI
10.1007/s10503-023-09605-w
CompPile
Open Access
OA PDF Hybrid
Topics
discourse analysis
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Firdaus (2026)
    Ad Hominem at the Boundary of Reasonableness: Strategic Maneuvering and Ideolog…
    Argumentation
  2. Ervas et al. (2026)
    Metaphors and Linguistic Intimacy in Ad Populum Arguments
    Argumentation
  3. Ortega-Sánchez et al. (2025)
    Teachers’ Perceptions of Argumentation in Citizenship Education: Psychometric V…
    Argumentation
  4. Contreras (2025)
    The Fallacy of Unbeatable Force
    Argumentation
  5. Wu et al. (2025)
    “Then why not Show the Evidence?” Concluding Maneuvering by Appealing to Ignora…
    Argumentation
Show all 7 →
  1. Eemeren (2025)
    Why Argumentation Theory? Realizing the Practical Objectives of Argumentation T…
    Argumentation
  2. Laar (2024)
    Multimodal Argument as Dialogue
    Argumentation

References (18) · 1 in this index

  1. van Eemeren, F. H. 2010. Strategic maneuvering in argumentative discourse. Extending the pragma-dialectical t…
     ↗
  2. FH van Eemeren (2015)
    Reasonableness and effectiveness in argumentative discourse. Fifty contributions to the d…
     ↗
  3. van Eemeren, F. H. 2018. Argumentation theory. A pragma-dialectical perspective. Dordrecht etc.: Springer. Ar…
     ↗
  4. FH van Eemeren (2019)
    In actual practice. Topical studies about argumentative discourse in context
     ↗
  5. FH van Eemeren (2009)
    Empirical research concerning the pragma-dialectical discussion rules
Show all 18 →
  1. Eemeren et al. (2012)
    Effectiveness Through Reasonableness Preliminary Steps to Pragma-Dialectical Ef…
    Argumentation
  2. van Eemeren, F. H., B. Garssen, and B. Meuffels. 2012b. The extended pragma-dialectical argumentation theory …
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  3. FH van Eemeren (2015)
    Scrutinizing argumentation in practice
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  4. FH van Eemeren (1984)
    Speech acts in argumentative discussions. A theoretical model for the analysis of discuss…
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  5. van Eemeren, F. H., and R. Grootendorst. 1988. Rationale for a pragma-dialectical perspective. In F. H. van E…
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  6. FH van Eemeren (1992)
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  9. van Eemeren, F. H., and P. Houtlosser. 2009. How to respond to fallacious moves? In F. H. van Eemeren (2015),…
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CrossRef global citation count: 18 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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